KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its women’s basketball postseason awards and All-MIAA teams for the 2021-22 season.
 
Missouri Southern’s Lacy Stokes highlights the 2022 postseason awards, claiming the Association’s 2022 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. Central Missouri’s Nija Collier was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Head Coach of the Lions Ronnie Ressel was tabbed the MIAA Coach of the Year.
 
Lacy Stokes made MIAA history becoming the first ever women's basketball player to be named the Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Stokes helped Missouri Southern to a share of its first ever MIAA regular season title and the No.1 seed in the 2022 tournament. The Lions finished 19-3 in the Association and ended the regular season on a 15-game winning streak. The first-year freshman from Mount Vernon, Mo. led the MIAA with 154 assists, 5.7 assists per game, 86 steals and 3.2 steals per game. She also ranked third in the MIAA with 19.4 points per game. The 5’4” point guard ranked second in the league in made free throws (142), fourth in made field goals (174) and ninth in made three-pointers (33). Stokes also ranked in the league’s top-five with 34.3 minutes per game. Her 2022 Freshman of the Year honor was by unanimous selection.
 
Central Missouri’s Nija Collier dominated the boards this season with a league-best 327 rebounds and 11.3 rebounds per game. The Jennies redshirt-senior from Roseville, Mich. averaged 3.6 offensive and 7.7 defensive rebounds per game. Collier also owned a league-high 48 blocks. Offensively, Collier’s 550 points this season was the third-most in the league. She hit 197-of-396 from the field for a .497 field goal percentage to rank third in the league. Her 128 made free throws also ranked third in the MIAA while her .800 free throw percentage ranked eighth. Central Missouri finished 15-7 in MIAA competition to claim the No.4 seed in the tournament.
 
Missouri Southern’s Head Coach Roonie was unanimously voted the MIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Lions to a share of the program’s first MIAA regular season championship. The Lions finished 19-3 in the Association and earned the top-seed in the 2022 tournament.
 
The 2022 MIAA Basketball Championships, presented by Citizens Bank & Trust, tips off Wednesday, March 2. To view the 2022 bracket and find more information about the tournament, visit the championship homepage.
 
2022 MIAA Postseason Awards
Player of the Year – Lacy Stokes – Missouri Southern, Freshman
Defensive Player of the Year – Nija Collier – Central Missouri, Senior
Freshman of the Year – Lacy Stokes – Missouri Southern*
Coach of the Year – Ronnie Ressel – Missouri Southern*
*Unanimous Selection

2022 MIAA All-Defensive Team
Connie Clarke – Missouri Western, Sophomore
Nija Collier – Central Missouri, Senior
Brooke Rayner – Central Oklahoma, Junior
Lacy Stokes – Missouri Southern, Freshman
Madi Stokes – Missouri Southern, Sophomore

2022 All-MIAA First Team
Nija Collier – Central Missouri, Senior
Jaden Hobbs – Fort Hays State, Senior
Kelsey Johnson – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Brooke Littrell – Central Missouri, Freshman
Lacy Stokes – Missouri Southern, Freshman

2022 All-MIAA Second Team
Elisa Backes – Nebraska Kearney, Junior
Connie Clarke – Missouri Western, Sophomore
Tristan Gegg – Pittsburg State, Senior
Tre’Zure Jobe – Emporia State, Sophomore
Katie Wagner – Fort Hays State, Freshman

2022 All-MIAA Third Team
Hunter Bentley – Washburn, Senior
Amaya Johns – Missouri Southern, Junior
Mallory McConkey – Northwest Missouri, Senior
Whitney Randall – Fort Hays State, Senior
Madi Stokes – Missouri Southern, Sophomore

2022 All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: Olivia Nelson, Freshman
Central Oklahoma:  Brooke Rayner, Junior
Emporia State: Ehlaina Hartman, Freshman – Karsen Schultz, Junior
Fort Hays State: Cydney Bergmann, Senior – Olivia Hollenbeck, Freshman
Missouri Western: Corbyn Cunningham, Senior – Brionna Budgetts, Sophomore
Nebraska Kearney: Klaire Kirsch, Junior – Haley Simental, Graduate – Brooke Carlson, Junior
Northeastern State: Maleeah Langstaff, Senior
Northwest Missouri: Molly Hartnett, Freshman – Peyton Kelderman, Freshman
Washburn: Abby Oliver, Sophomore